Objectives: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is used to suppress the HIV viral load but requires optimal adherence to be effective. This study examined the factors influencing ART adherence among HIV-positive clients in the Ga West Municipality, Ghana using the Health Belief Model (HBM).
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional design was adopted among 397 HIV clients aged 18 years and above. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using Stata version 16.0. Binary logistic regression was performed at the < 0.05 level.
Results: Adherence to ART was 44.6%. Clients who took less than 30 minutes to reach ART sites were 59% less likely to adhere to ART (odds ratio (OR) 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.82). Clients who thought they lost income when they went to obtain their ART refill were more likely to adhere to ART (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.04-2.83), as were those who developed side effects (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.05-2.89) (perceived barriers). Clients who had confidence in their ability to take their medications (self-efficacy) (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.05-3.31) and those who received reminders from health workers (cues to action) (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.04-3.53) were more likely to adhere to ART.
Conclusions: Interventions should focus on increasing client confidence in adhering to ART. Providers should be empowered to provide reminders to patients.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9216268 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijregi.2022.04.009 | DOI Listing |
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